California Democratic Party Executive Board Urges Obama to End Afghan War

California Democratic Party Executive Board passes a resolution calling for end to war in Afghanistan, sends ´clear´ message to President Obama to not escalate conflict.

SAN DIEGO – The California Democratic Party Executive Board has approved an extraordinary resolution – to be forwarded to President Obama – that generally calls for an end to the occupation and air war in Afghanistan.

The resolution (ProgressiveCaucusCDP.org), authored by the party´s California Progressive Caucus, calls for a "time-table for withdrawal of military personnel" as well as an end to the use of "mercenary contractors...(and) air strikes that cause heavy civilian casualties."

The Executive Board also passed the Legislative Action and Equal Opportunity Committee's which contained Barbara Lee's bill HR 3699 prohibiting the funding of any increase in troops.

The resolution cites public opinion polls showing the vast majority of Americans opposed to the war because of the toll on U.S. military personnel, and the billions of dollars being diverted to the war in the face of economic crisis in the U.S. and "particularly the state of California."

"The presence of foreign troops has instead strengthened them (Taliban), creating greater insecurity, death and impoverishment of the Afghan people," the resolution states.

"Having taken into account the President´s deliberative pace as he comes to a decision on whether or not to send more troops, we recognize a unique opportunity to send a message with the hope of persuading him against making a huge mistake," said Karen Bernal, Progressive Caucus chair and co-author of the resolution. "Now, there can be no disputing the fact that the overwhelming majority of California Democrats are not only saying no to escalation, but no to our continued presence in Afghanistan, period."

"Our voices must not be ignored, for ours are the voices of reason and hope that elected Barack Obama to the White House. Bring veterans to the table, bring our young men and women into the room and bring an end to a foreign policy that only breeds more enemies," said co-author Marcy Winograd, congressional candidate in the 36th CD (now held by Jane Harman).

Added Rick Reyes, vice president of Iraq Veterans Against the War, in support of the resolution:

"I would rather suffer the consequences of fighting on the side of justice in the name of true Democracy, than to suffer the consequences of injustice in the name of national security."